Buffy’s back — and kickin’ butt

I usually ignore comic book spin-offs of popular movies and TV shows (“Star Wars,” “The X-Files,” “Star Trek,” “Battlestar Galactica” and even “CSI”) because the storylines tend to be, I dunno, auxiliary and non-canonical. In other words, they don’t count.

(Of course, that’s really never stopped me from enjoying a good comic book story even if it’s part of “official” continuity. Don’t get me started on DC Comics’ classic “Imaginary” stories or Marvel’s “Ultimate” line.)

From page one, we’re quickly plunged right back into the Buffy-verse. God, it’s good to be back.

Right off the bat, the storyline gets intriguing: There’s Buffy, backed by a vampire-slaying squad, toting not a wooden stake but rather a large gun. By page 8, we’re treated to some classic Buffy bad-guy ass kickage.

And Whedon’s storyline immediately floats some questions that’ll keep the geeks scratching their heads: Why does our hero mention there are THREE of her in the world? Why again is Xander wearing an eyepatch? (Dammit, gotta go back and re-watch my “Buffy” DVDs to brush up) And when did he get promoted to Watcher, or did he? What happened to Sunnydale? (I.e., what’s with the big giant hole?) Who’s the crazy-looking magic-wielding person on the final cliffhanger page? And why is Buffy’s sis Dawn so… so… oh, I’ll let you find out for yourself.

So in summary, Buffy’s back, the first issue is teasingly good, the artwork by Georges Jeanty and Andy Owens is exceptional, and it’s full of the usual witty one-liners. Buffy nerds, go to the comic shop and pick it up. Besides, they’re all sold out of “Captain America” No. 25 anyway.